LSU-bound Shepard to represent Houston in Fla.

Published 6:30 am, Saturday, January 3, 2009

Jordan Najvar, a Klein Oak tight end who is headed for Stanford, will play for the Black team in Orlando, Fla.

Jordan Najvar, a Klein Oak tight end who is headed for Stanford, will play for the Black team in Orlando, Fla.

Photo: Tony Bullard, For The Chronicle

Shepard, kickers lead Houstonians at Fla. showcase

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With one All-American game wrapping up on Saturday, yet another is in store today.

With a handful of local players suited up, the second annual Under Armour All-America game will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday at Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

Six players from the Greater Houston area are on the roster, three on offense, one on defense and two specialists. The group is headlined by Cypress Ridge quarterback Russell Shepard, the Chronicle's 2008 All-Greater Houston Offensive Player of the Year. Shepard, who is committed to LSU, ran for 1,962 yards and 29 touchdowns and threw for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns this season.

Filling out the area's offensive players are a pair of tight ends: North Shore senior Barrett Matthews, who is committed to Texas, and Klein Oak senior Jordan Najvar, who is committed to Stanford. Shepard, Matthews and Najvar will suit up for the Black team.

Defensively, Eisenhower player Craig Loston, who is ranked as the No. 1 safety in the country by Rivals.com, will play for the White team. Loston is also committed to LSU.

Two kickers from the area, St. Pius senior Anthony Fera (White team) and Clear Lake senior Dustin Hopkins (Black team) will also be in action. Both Rivals.com and Scout.com have ranked Hopkins and Fera as the nation's top two kickers.